Shanchun Zhang

Alcohol drinking and all cancer mortality: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUNDnEpidemiological studies have suggested an inconsistent relationship between alcohol drinking and risk of all cancer mortality. As far as we know, no meta-analysis has been conducted to explore this issue.nnnPATIENTS AND METHODSnWe carried out a PubMed search to find relevant articles published before April 2012 in English. Categorical and dose-response meta-analyses were conducted to identify the impact of alcohol drinking on all cancer mortality. Potential sources of heterogeneity were detected by meta-regression and stratification analyses. Sensitivity and cumulative meta-analyses were also carried out.nnnRESULTSnEighteen independent cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. Compared with non/occasional drinkers, the pooled relative risks (RRs) were 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89-0.94] for light, 1.02 (95% CI 0.99-1.06) for moderate, and 1.31 (95% CI 1.23-1.39) for heavy drinkers. Former drinkers presented a higher risk (RR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.15-1.50) than current drinkers (RR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.98-1.16). There was a J-shaped relationship between all cancer mortality and alcohol consumption in males but not in females.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThis meta-analysis confirms the health hazards of heavy drinking (≥50 g/day) and benefits of light drinking (≤12.5 g/day). Large-sample, well-designed, prospective epidemiological studies, especially on heavy drinking among women, should be developed in future.

Associations of miRNA polymorphisms and female physiological characteristics with breast cancer risk in Chinese population.

mircoRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles on regulation of gene expressions. Aberrant expression of miRNAs was involved in various biological and pathological processes, including tumorigenesis of breast cancer. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were implicated in altered expression or biological functions of mature miRNAs. To explore the relevance of miRNA polymorphisms and female physiological characteristics to breast cancer risk, SNPs located within hsa-miR-605 (rs2043556), hsa-miR-149 (rs2292832), hsa-miR-27a (rs895819), hsa-miR-196a-2 (rs11614913) and hsa-miR-618 (rs2682818) were selected, and their associations with breast cancer risk were analysed. In addition, associations between physiological characteristics-related factors and breast cancer risk were estimated too. We found that the ones with menarche age less than 16 years had increased breast cancer risk (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.23-3.60). Marginally significant association between rs11614913 CT/CC genotypes and reduced breast cancer risk was observed (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.40-1.06), while no significance was detected about the other miRNA polymorphisms. We concluded that menarche at less than 16 years old increased breast cancer risk, while the genetic variants in miR-196-a-2 might decrease the risk.

Associations of lifestyle-related factors, hsa-miR-149 and hsa-miR-605 gene polymorphisms with gastrointestinal cancer risk

To explore the associations of SNPs within hsa‐miR‐605 (rs2043556) and hsa‐miR‐149 (rs2292832) and lifestyle‐related factors with gastrointestinal cancer, a case–control study including 762 cases and 757 controls was conducted. Marginally significant associations were found both for hsa‐miR‐149 rs2292832 with gastric cancer risk (TCu2009+u2009CC vs. TT, ORu2009=u20090.68, 95% CI: 0.44–1.04) and for hsa‐miR‐605 rs2043556 with colorectal cancer risk (AGu2009+u2009GG vs. AA, ORu2009=u20090.70, 95% CI: 0.48–1.02) in males. Tea drinking showed a protective effect on gastric cancer risk (ORu2009=u20090.28, 95% CI: 0.13–0.60), while smoke inhalation increased the risk of gastric cancer (ORu2009=u20091.94, 95% CI: 1.08–3.47). Irritability was found to be a risk factor for both colorectal cancer (ORu2009=u20091.61, 95% CI: 1.02–2.53) and gastric cancer (ORu2009=u20091.96, 95% CI: 1.17–3.29). Among those that engaged in smoke inhalation, miR‐149 CT/CC and miR‐605 AG/GG genotype carriers had increased susceptibilities to colorectal cancer (ORu2009=u20091.90, 95% CI: 1.11–3.25) and gastric cancer (ORu2009=u20091.87, 95% CI: 1.03–3.42), respectively. Among the tea drinkers, there exists a marginally protective effect of miR‐605 AG/GG genotypes on colorectal cancer incidence (ORu2009=u20090.71, 95% CI: 0.47–1.06) and a significantly protective effect of miR‐149 CT/CC on gastric cancer incidence (ORu2009=u20090.47, 95% CI: 0.29–0.77). The SNPs of rs2292832 and rs2043556 might be able to modify the susceptibility to male gastric and colorectal cancers, respectively. Tea drinking is a protective factor, while smoke inhalation is a risk factor for gastric cancer, and they might have the potential to modify the associations between miR‐149 and miR‐605 polymorphisms with gastrointestinal cancer risk. In addition, irritability was shown to be a risk factor for both gastric and colorectal cancers.

Gender susceptibility for cigarette smoking-attributable lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVESnAs the primary cause of lung cancer, whether smoking confers the same risk of lung cancer for women as men is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to compare male and female susceptibility for cigarette smoking-attributable lung cancer.nnnMETHODSnA systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by searching articles published up to July 2013 in three online databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database). All studies estimated the association of cigarette smoking with the risk of lung cancer between men and women, respectively. A random effects model with inverse variance weighting was used to pool data. Male to female ratio of relative risk (RRR) was calculated to compare male and female susceptibility for cigarette smoking-attributable lung cancer.nnnRESULTSn47 articles containing 404,874 individuals were included in the final analysis. Compared with non-smokers, male to female RRR was 1.61 (95%CI: 1.37, 1.89) among current smokers. Based on pathological type, adenocarcinoma had the highest RRR (1.42; 95%CI: 0.86, 2.35), followed by squamous cancer and small cell lung cancer. Furthermore, compared with non-smoking men, current smoking men had higher risk of lung cancer than women in spite of smoking quantity, smoking duration or years since quitting.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThese findings indicated that males had higher susceptibility for cigarette smoking-attributable lung cancer than females. It is contradicted with traditional opinion that females would be more easily suffered from cigarette smoking-attributable health problems than males. Hence, tobacco control is very crucial in both males and females.

Pan-Asian adapted ESMO consensus guidelines for the management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: A JSMO-ESMO initiative endorsed by CSCO, KACO, MOS, SSO and TOS

The most recent version of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) consensus guidelines for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) was published in 2016, identifying both a more strategic approach to the administration of the available systemic therapy choices, and a greater emphasis on the use of ablative techniques, including surgery. At the 2016 ESMO Asia Meeting, in December 2016, it was decided by both ESMO and the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO) to convene a special guidelines meeting, endorsed by both ESMO and JSMO, immediately after the JSMO 2017 Annual Meeting. The aim was to adapt the ESMO consensus guidelines to take into account the ethnic differences relating to the toxicity as well as other aspects of certain systemic treatments in patients of Asian ethnicity. These guidelines represent the consensus opinions reached by experts in the treatment of patients with mCRC identified by the Presidents of the oncological societies of Japan (JSMO), China (Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology), Korea (Korean Association for Clinical Oncology), Malaysia (Malaysian Oncological Society), Singapore (Singapore Society of Oncology) and Taiwan (Taiwan Oncology Society). The voting was based on scientific evidence and was independent of both the current treatment practices and the drug availability and reimbursement situations in the individual participating Asian countries.

Polymorphisms of inflammation-related genes and colorectal cancer risk: a population-based case–control study in China

The previous studies found that chronic inflammation related to an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to explore the associations of polymorphisms in inflammation‐related genes (IL10, IL10RA, IL6R, TNFRSF1A, TNFRSF1B, LTA and IL4) and their interactions with the risk of colorectal cancer among Chinese population. A population‐based case–control study including 299 cases and 296 controls was conducted from January 2001 to December 2009. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression was used to analyse the association of nine SNPs in inflammation‐related genes with the risk of CRC, colon cancer and rectal cancer, respectively. Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) was implemented to explore the gene–gene interactions among all SNPs on CRC. A decreased risk of colorectal cancer in subjects with rs1800872 AC genotype of IL10 (OR = 0.643, 95%CI = 0.453, 0.912) or AC/CC genotype (OR = 0.636, 95%CI = 0.457, 0.885) was observed, compared with those with AA genotype. Meanwhile, similar associations were observed between rs1800872 and rectal cancer. Additionally, in rs1061624 of TNFRSF1B gene, AG genotype (OR=0.566; 95% CI= 0.362, 0.885) and AG/GG genotype (OR=0.638; 95% CI=0.420, 0.971) were significantly associated with a decreased risk of rectal cancer, respectively. Our findings indicated that mutants in IL10 and TNFRSF1B genes may change the CRC risk. However, there is no interaction between inflammation‐related genes on CRC risk.

RPSA Gene Mutants Associated with Risk of Colorectal Cancer among the Chinese Population

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ribosomal protein SA (RPSA) gene with colorectal cancer (CRC). A case-control study including 388 controls and 387 patients with CRC was conducted in a Chinese population. Information about socio-demography and living behavior factors was collected by a structured questionnaire. Three SNPs (rs2133579, rs2269349, rs7641291) in RPSA gene were genotyped by Illumina SnapShot method. Multiple logistic regression models were used for assessing the joint effects between tea consumption and SNPs on CRC. The subjects with rs2269349 CC genotype had a decreased risk for CRC (OR=0.60; 95%CI = 0.37-0.99), compared with TT/CT genotype after adjustment for covariates. A similar association of rs2269349 with rectal cancer was observed (OR=0.49; 95%CI=0.24-1.00). Further analyses indicated that this SNP could modify the protective effect of tea drinking on CRC. Among the subjects with rs2269349 TT/CT or rs2133579 AA/GA, there was a marginal significantly lower risk of CRC (OR and 95%CI: 0.63 and 0.39-1.01 for rs2269349; 0.64 and 0.40-1.02 for rs2133579) in tea-drinking subjects in comparison to non-tea-drinking subjects. Mutants in the RPSA gene might be associated with genetic susceptibility to CRC and influence the protective effect of tea consumption in the Chinese population.

Association of genetic variants in tachykinins pathway genes with colorectal cancer risk

PurposeThis study aims to explore the associations of polymorphisms in tachykinin, precursor 1 (TAC1), tachykinin receptor 1 (TACR1), and tachykinin receptor 2 (TACR2) genes and their interactions with the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) among Chinese population.MethodsA population-based case-control study which included 394 cases and 393 cancer-free controls was carried out. A total of 19 tagSNPs in the three genes were chosen based on HapMap and NCBI datasets and genotyped by SNPshot assay. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the associations of SNPs with CRC after adjustment for potential covariates. Furthermore, generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) method was used to test the interactive effect among three genes on CRC.ResultsCompared with those carrying rs3755457 CC/CT or rs12477554 TT/CT genotype, individuals carrying homozygous variants had higher risk of colorectal cancer (adjusted ORu2009=u20091.80, 95xa0% CIu2009=u20091.03–3.13, Pu2009=u20090.039 for rs3755457; adjusted ORu2009=u20091.73, 95xa0% CIu2009=u20091.07–2.79, Pu2009=u20090.024 for rs12477554). As for rs10198644, GG genotype was associated with a 1.72-fold (95xa0% CIu2009=u20090.37–0.88) decreased risk when compared with the common CC genotype. Moreover, the GMDR analysis indicated that the best interactive model included five polymorphisms: rs2072100 (TAC1), rs10198644 (TACR1), rs2193409 (TACR1), rs3771810 (TACR1), and rs4644560 (TACR2).ConclusionsOur study suggests that tachykinins pathway genes may participate in the development of CRC and the potential interactions among the three genes on CRC may exist, which has to be confirmed in future larger studies.

Relationship of anthropometric measurements to thyroid nodules in a Chinese population

Objective Previous studies have found that overweight and obesity are related to numerous diseases, including thyroid cancer and thyroid volume. This study evaluates the relationship between body size and the presence of thyroid nodules in a Chinese population. Methods A total of 6793 adults and 2410 children who underwent thyroid ultrasonography were recruited in this cross-sectional study in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, from March to October, 2010. Sociodemographic characteristics and potential risk factors of thyroid nodules were collected by questionnaire. Height and weight were measured using standard protocols. Associations of height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA) with the presence of thyroid nodules were evaluated using multiple logistic regression models. Results After adjustment for potential risk factors, an increased risk of thyroid nodule incidence was associated with height (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.30), weight (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.58), BMI (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.42) and BSA (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.62) in all adults, but most obviously in women. In children, similar associations were observed between risk of thyroid nodule incidence and weight, BMI and BSA, but not height. BSA was the measurement most significantly associated with thyroid nodules in both adults and children. Conclusions This study identified that the presence of thyroid nodules was positively associated with weight, height, BMI and BSA in both women and girls. It suggests that tall, obese individuals have increased susceptibility to thyroid nodules. Trial registration number: NCT01838629.

The joint association of REST and NFKB1 polymorphisms on the risk of colorectal cancer.

Due to the high morbidity and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC), this study aims to determine the joint association of RE‐1‐silencing transcription factor (REST) and nuclear factor‐κB 1 (NFKB1) genes with CRC in a population‐based study. A well‐matched case‐control study including 390 controls and 388 patients with CRC was enrolled in China. The selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the REST and NFKB1 genes were genotyped by Illumina SnapShot Chip. After adjustment for important covariates, the associations of SNPs and joint association of REST and NFKB1 with CRC were evaluated by multiple logistic regression models. The subjects with the rs2228991 AA genotype of the REST gene had a decreased risk for CRC (OR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.19–0.74), compared with the GG genotype. There were no significant associations between three SNPs in the NFKB1 gene, their haplotype and CRC risk. However, a significant combined effect of rs3774959 and rs3774964 in the NFKB1 gene with rs2228991 in the REST gene on CRC risk was observed. In conclusion, the present study found that mutation in the REST gene rather than the NFKB1 gene was associated with the risk of CRC. Furthermore, significant REST‐NFKB1 joint association was observed for CRC, colon cancer and rectal cancer risk.